About the Inventor – Dick Hannula:Â Hall of Fame Coach
Coach Hannula’s contributions to the sport of swimming have been recognized worldwide, culminating in his induction into the 1987 International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF), the 2004 American Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and the 1982 National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Dick Hannula has been the President of the American Swimming Coaches Association (1976-1978, 1986) and was the Vice President of the World Swimming Coaches Association. He also served as chairman of U.S. Swimming’s Technical Instruction Committee. Hannula was the commissioner of swimming at the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle. He has also written extensively on swimming in articles and interviews (over 160 at last count), publications, and books such as Coaching Swimming Successfully and the co-editor of The Swim Coaching Bible. He has been a featured coach at clinics in more than 30 states and internationally (Australia, Hong Kong, and Thailand).
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Hannula has served on multiple international staffs, including teams in 1973 (England and Bulgaria), 1975 (Pan American Games Mexico City), 1976 (Egypt), 1978 (Taiwan), 1979 (Pan American Games San Juan), 1985 (Pan Pacific Tokyo), the 1984 (Olympic Games Los Angeles), and 1988 (Olympic Games Seoul), and the 2001 (Goodwill Games Brisbane).
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Hannula’s swimmers have achieved success at the highest levels. They have achieved 2 World Records, 2 Olympic Records, 13 American Records, and 2 National High School Records. He is the all-time winningest high school coach in the USA, as he led Wilson High School (Tacoma, WA) to 24 consecutive Washington High School State Championships and a 323 consecutive dual meet streak without a loss.Â
